The internet needs you, find your domain name today

How to get started

Here are some things to keep in mind when doing a domain name search.

Domain and Brand

If you already have a business or brand, your domain should match your name. If the .com domain is taken, you can try an alternate TLD, but be sure not to put yourself in another company’s shadow or infringe on their trademark.

Domain Anatomy

Make sure your domain is easy to spell and pronounce, and doesn’t contain any strange letter substitutions or omissions that will make it difficult to remember. Hyphens are also usually not a great idea because people forget about them.

Short and Sweet

Keep the domain names as short as you can manage. Single-word domains, when you can find one, are golden.

Availability

Check that the domain name does not appear as a username on major social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Trademark Names

Make sure no one holds a trademark on the proposed domain name.

Ask your friends

The domains you come up with might seem great to you, but it’s a good idea to ask your friends and family for opinions. Here are a few questions you might ask.

1 Say the domain name out loud and ask them to write it down. Can they spell it easily?

2 Do the words spell anything strange?

3 Are there unexpected associations?

4 Is it memorable?

How to find good domain names

Lots of people assume that they need the .com extension for every domain. While it is still considered the gold standard, there are now hundreds of other domain options out there. These can be excellent choices to add clever branding to your website or to expand your search.

At Conex we have a page dedicated to all of the new TLDs. Here you can filter by category or browse the entire list. We have domain extensions for every conceivable business, hobby, and lifestyle. Even if you think you’re going to register the .com domain, it’s worth a look!

FAQs

Are .com domains better for search engine optimization (SEO)?

No. All domain extensions are considered equal in the eyes of Google. There is no automatic preference given to a .com domain.

Where you do need to be careful, however, is to not register an alternate domain if the .com is taken by a large company. This can hurt your search results and also open you up to a potential trademark battle.

Should I buy multiple extensions for the same domain?

Yes. Registering a domain extension reserves it so that no one else can use it. So if you’ve got mydomain.com, you might be wise to also register mydomain.net and mydomain.org (and redirect them back to your correct site) in order to avoid confusion and keep your visitors coming to your site.

What is a premium domain?

Premium domains (also known as aftermarket or pre-registered domains) are short domains, often just one word or even just 3-5 letters. Most of them have a .com extension but many premium domains end with .org, .net, and .biz. These domains include common words and are generally the most memorable. Because companies value short domains that match their company name or products, these domains are typically the most desirable. Additionally, certain domains sold by different registries are considered premium and therefore have a higher price point. In some cases, the renewal costs of these higher-priced domains are also quite expensive. Some high-priced premium domains, though, renew at a regular (lower cost) rate, giving you a better value in the long term. Make sure to research the overall cost of the domain plus renewal to find the right domain for your budget.

What’s needed to register a domain?

Anyone can register a domain. All you need is a good name, an account with Conex, and an acceptable form of payment.

Is it a good idea to own a domain with my own name in it?

Absolutely. Owning 'yourname.com' (as well as related domains such as yourname.tech or yourname.me) is a great way to brand yourself and retain control over your name’s online presence. With a personal domain name, you can set up a portfolio, blog, or hobby site that’s associated with your own personal life. You can also set up a custom email address like john@johnsmith.com allowing your visitors an easy and memorable way to reach you. So even if you have no immediate use for yourname.com, it’s wise to register a personal domain to ensure that you (and not some stranger) control your name online.

What if the domain I want says "make offer"?

In some instances, the domain you want may already be registered by someone else. The owner may, however, be willing to sell it to you for a negotiated price. By selecting "make offer" on these domains, you’ll be able to connect with the current domain owner and make an offer. This service is provided by our partners.

Will my data be kept private?

In order to register any domain, you must provide certain personal information that you may not wish to be publically searchable in the Whois database. Signing up for WhoisGuard is a great way to keep your registration data private. WhoisGuard acts as a "shield" for your searchable information, displaying the address, phone number, and email of the domain registrar (Conex, e.g.) instead of your own. Keep in mind that WhoisGuard is an optional security add-on that must be renewed separately when you renew your domain.

Disclaimers

You receive WhoisGuard subscription for one year (a value of $2.88) absolutely free with every eligible new domain registration or transfer. WhoisGuard subscription expiration is based on purchase date rather than activation date. WhoisGuard provides subscription pursuant to its Services Agreement with Conex. Terms and conditions apply.

DNS features mentioned are applicable only if your domain uses our default nameservers.

You receive a special $1.99 Comodo PositiveSSL Certificate (valid for the first year only) with every new product purchase except domain renewals, WhoisGuard renewals, purchase or renewals of any other SSL certificates. Further restrictions may apply.